The much-loved BookBenches from The BookBench Trail will soon be removed from their outdoor locations across the north of Scotland in preparation for a special farewell event at The Music Hall in Aberdeen.
Sponsored by Bilfinger and Hellmann
Worldwide Logistics and delivered by charity Clan Cancer Support, the public
art trail features 41 large BookBench sculptures displayed across a 500-mile route
from Stonehaven, Aberdeen to Lerwick, Shetland.
From Monday, August 25, the Clan team
will begin the process of deinstalling the sculptures ahead of the project’s
Farewell Weekend on Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21.
Organisers anticipate thousands of
visitors will attend the event at The Music Hall for the only chance to see all
the sculptures under the one roof before they are sold at auction at The
Chester Hotel on Wednesday, October 8 to raise valuable funds for Clan Cancer
Support.
Fiona Fernie, Clan’s CEO, said: “As we
come to the final days of The BookBench Trail, we’d like to thank our amazing
sponsors for helping us to coordinate such a special project across our
communities.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support
of the public throughout the trail and look forward to welcoming guests to our
Farewell Weekend in September for what we hope will be the perfect send off for
our BookBenches before they are given new homes at our auction.”
The BookBench Trail’s Farewell Event
will offer members of the public access to an indoor display of all 41 large
BookBench sculptures and all 38 mini BookBench sculptures which have been
designed by local schools.
Fiona Fernie
Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favourite World Book Day character, with face painting and art activities on offer and the opportunity to buy trail merchandise and pre-loved books, with all proceeds going to support Clan’s vital services.
The Farewell Weekend will take place at Aberdeen Music Hall from 10am – 5pm on Saturday, September 16 and on Sunday, September 17. Tickets are priced at £8 per person and entry is free for children under five.
Clan is working with local charity We Too! to deliver two Relaxed Sessions from 4pm-5pm on Saturday, September 16 and 10am-11am on Sunday, September 17 to ensure the Farewell Weekend is inclusive and accessible for all. The We Too! Ninjas will be on hand throughout these sessions to offer practical support and guidance.
In partnership with Wild in Art, The BookBench Trail aims to raise awareness of the leading north-east cancer charity which runs five support centres and additional outreach programmes across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Orkney and Shetland and generate vital funding for its services.
Charlie Langhorne, managing director and co-founder of Wild in Art said: “It’s been wonderful to see how much joy The BookBench Trail has brought to thousands of people this summer. The upcoming Farewell Weekend promises to be a spectacular sight, with all the BookBenches gathered in one place for the final time.
“Their next chapter is just around the corner as they are set to play a vital role in raising funds for Clan. Make sure you see them all at the Farewell Weekend and pick your favourites to bid on at auction.”
Clan chose the 1.4metre wide BookBench sculpture, which depicts an open book, because of its lifeline listening support service which enables anyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis to open up and tell their story.
The large sculptures and specially commissioned mini sculptures will be sold at auction at The Chester Hotel on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 with all proceeds going to Clan Cancer Support.
All mini BookBench sculptures created by local pupils will be returned to schools following the Farewell Weekend.
Clan’s previous trail projects Light the North (2021) and The Big Hop Trail (2023) have raised a combined total of more than £520,000 for Clan services.
For more information and to buy tickets for both the Farewell Weekend, please visit: https://www.clancancersupport.org/the-book-bench-trail/farewell-weekend/